Re: Formalin Substitutes

From:

"Barnhart, Tammy" <tbarnhart@primecare.org>

Tom makes an excellent point. Formaldehyde exposure is not a concern for people who are simply putting specimens into a container. Spills may be quickly contained and cleaned up without exceeding OSHA exposure limits. Ignorance of the exceptable exposure limits is no reason to give up the cheapest and best fixitive. Educate the staff and monitor once. This should stop the resistance to using formalin.
Tammy Barnhart, BS, HTL(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
St. Alexius Medical Center
Bismarck, ND
tbarnhart@primecare.org